67 Coronga Crescent Killara NSW 2071
9114.6689 hm ph
0412.045.224
11 January 2008
Attachment ‘A’
The Manager
Road Safety Sydney COPY
Road and Traffic Authority
PO Box 973
Parramatta NSW 2124
Request for a meeting concerning four Blackspots in two national parks north of
Sydney which have caused several bad accidents
Purpose of
meeting is to -
* install dedicated “Cyclists Blackspot” warning signs;
and
* rectify the dangers where viable
Background:
Public mindset regarding the merits of cycling has changed materially even
in the last 12 months, ostensibly due to Climate Change and an accelerating
level of obesity. All levels of government are now extolling the merits of
cycling.
My name is Philip Johnston. I am a committed road cyclist who has organised gratis regular +100km Sunday recreational bicycle rides for over 12 years.
I maintain 2 websites for ardent hill climbers:
Sydney and the Illawarra are blessed with many beaut hills. The 2nd website above provides co-ordinates to over 60 of them to enable cyclists to log their climb times on an individual time trial basis.
I recently retired from a career in infrastructure project finance with Commonwealth Bank. I am not an advocate for dedicated cycle paths, unless robust patronage projections can justify the high cost. Sydney is equipped with hundreds of roads around its perimeter where cyclists can ride in relative safety, particularly early on Sundays.
Risk Warnings:
Pursuant to
Clause 5M(1) of Division 5
Recreational Activities
of the
Civil Liability Amendment (Personal Responsibility)
Act 2002 No 92 ,
as a volunteer Inviter, I am required to warn members of the public (in my
Ride Invitation) of any dangers in a Recreational Exercise Activity that I
invite them to participate.
I know several other bicycle ride organisers, amongst both recreational and cycle racing clubs and groups. From time to time, we discuss bicycle accidents in the same way that parachute instructors take a close interest in fatal parachute accidents. We refer to locations where a disproportionately high number of road cycle accidents occur as Blackspots.
2
4 Blackspots:
This letter focuses on 4 Blackspots in two national parks on Sydney’s Northside
which I understand are controlled by RTA. The 2 national parks are at West Head
and Bobbin Head.
Unfortunately, these Blackspots are located where novice, inexperienced cyclists are presently flocking to add recreational outdoor exercise to their lifestyle.
Annexure A [2 pgs] provides details of these 4 Blackspots and some of the accidents which have occurred at each of them.
In the same manner that ride organisers are required under law to warn ride participants of all obvious dangers, my fellow ride organisers and I consider that dedicated cyclist warning signs should be provided to warn of an imminent Blackspot, and thereby reduce the likelihood of further accidents of the severity noted in Annexure A. We also consider that where feasible the cause of the danger should be eliminated or diminished.
In the case of the 1st Blackspot in Annexure A, the high incidence of serious accidents warrant the narrow road approaching West Head Lookout at Commodore Heights to also be widened by at least 2 metres on the RHS and banked at least 400mm on the LHS for a length of approx 125 metres which would materially assist cyclists to hold that section of the road, albeit the Cyclist Blackspot warning sign would also materially mitigate the likelihood of further accidents such as that suffered by Jhonnie Blampied who remained in a coma for 3 months.
Finally, I am not seeking to achieve a precedent for a plethora of Cyclist Blackspot warning signs which would mitigate the impact of warning signs and may encourage complacency and increase sign litter. There are a few other Blackspots on Sydney’s Northside which I would like to discuss with you. Road cycling is growing in popularity at a much greater rate than previously. Consequently there are more novice cyclists who are unaware of the dangers to life and limb associated with these Blackspots.
NB: If you e-mail me scribepj@tpg.com.au and it will assist you consider this letter, I will e-mail you this letter which contains a few URLs.
Yours faithfully
Philip J. Johnston
Ride Organiser, Muggaccinos Bicycle User Group
Director, KOMpm Pty Ltd